When my story was picked by The Imagination Machine, a group of talented actors who hand pick students’ writings and act them out on stage, I was thrilled to see my own story come to life. Being a mere fourth grader who had recently moved back to America, I was lucky enough to be the only one in my grade who was selected. My story was called “The Phoenix”. I had written this story during class, when we had to create a short story about a legend or a myth that intrigued us. As a lover of animals and the Harry Potter series, I chose to write about the Phoenix, an everlasting bird usually associated with the sun or fire, and how the creature provided warmth for the world through its fiery breath. Although the joy of watching my story lay out was ephemeral, the experience gave me an impetus to write more creative stories, and rework “The Phoenix” so that I could create it into a children’s storybook. I want more children to realize the fun in creative writing, and inspire them to write more of their own stories-- to engender creativity and let their imaginations fly.